Erasing-shield for type-writers.



N0. 662,59 Patented Nov. 27, I900.-

\ M. A. BROWN. ERASING SHIELD FOR TYPE WRITERS.

(Application fi d c (No Model.)

referred.

have now MARY A. BROWN, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

ERASlNG-SHIELD FOR TYPE-WRITERS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 662,591, dated November 27, 1900. Application tiled October 2, 1900. Serial No. 31,794. \No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, MARY A. BROWN, a citizen of the United States, residing at \Vashington, in the District of Columbia, have in vented certain new and useful Improvements in Erasing-Shields for Type-Writers,of which the following is a specification.

1n erasing-shields for type-writers as heretofore constructed openings have been provided through which the matter to be erased is exposed. In using shields of this character it is necessary to use a rubber having a small or narrow point that will pass through the openings in the shield, and considerable trouble and waste are occasioned in keeping the rubber in proper sharpened condition.

It is the object of my invention to provide a shield which will permit of the use of any size or shape of eraser in making corrections either in the last line of close-line or single space work or in any line of double-space work. I have found in practice that errors are usually discovered when they are made, and the corrections can almost always be made immediately. Under these circumstances the corrections, of course, can be made on the last line of the work. By the use of my invention such corrections can be made with much greater rapidity, ease, and freedom and with a more advantageous use of the rubber than with the shields asheretofore constructed.

The invention will now be described in detail, reference being had to the accompanying plate may also be provided with other openings l) of any suitable shape and number for exposing single characters orsmall words for erasure.

The particular feature constituting my invention is an extension B of the plate, adapted to cover a portion of one line, while the plate proper lies above or below to protect the adjacent line. As shown in the drawings, this extension is generally rectangular, with corners rounded to give it a pleasing outline and leave no' points or projections. It will be evident that the outline or design of extension B may be varied, if desired, without departing from the spirit of the in vention.

The manner of using the improved shield is-illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2. Ordinarily an error in type-writing is immediately discovered and corrected by erasing the last character or last few characters printed. This is done, as shown in Fig. 1, by placing the shield with its lower straight edge 0 above and parallel with the line in which the error occurs and arranging the extension B immediately at the left of the matter to be erased to protect the preceding part of the line. In this manner only the characters to be erased are exposed, the line above and the matter to the left being protected. It will be seen that the exposed letters or words may be readily erased with a rubber of any size or shape. It will also be evident from an inspection of Fig. 1 that the work of erasing erroneous matter can be much more readily performed with my improved shield than if it were exposed through one or other of the small or narrow openings in the plate. Furthermore, the operator can use a flat side of the-eraser and do the work with much more freedom and apply greater pressure than would be feasible if the work were done through one of the said openings. A great saving of time can thus be effected, and it is found that much less of the rubber is worn than would be the case if the corrections were made through the openings. ll find it convenient and economical to use the flat side of the rubber in making erasures at the end of a line, as shown in Fig. 1. In this way the rubber is kept sharp and in good condition to make any corrections in the body of the type-written work through openings in the plate, as heretofore. If all the corrections were made through openings in the plate, as heretofore, the rubber would have to be sharpened by a knife or other instrument and part of it would be wasted, which by my invention is utilized in making erasures.

When it is desired to erase matter from an intermediate portion of thelast line,the shield may first be placed as shown in Fig. 1 and the left-end portion of the erroneous matter erased. The shield is then reversed, as shown in Fig. 2, and the balance of the matter erased.

In this manner I perform work which has heretofore been performed by means of the openingain the shield, butwith much greater ease and with less waste of the eraser.

In Fig. 3 I have shown a shield 1), constructed especially for making corrections in the last line of single-space work or any line of double-space work. This shield may be used inconnection with another shield of the ordinary character having the openings for exposing single characters or Words. The

C and the extension B, which are the same as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2.

The shield may be formed of a thin sheet of metal, celluloid, cardboard, or other suitable material and in any suitable manner.

Having described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,

As a new'article of manufacture, a typewriters erasing-shield consisting of a metal or other plate having a straight edge, 0, and an extension, B, projecting beyond said edge and adapted to cover a-portion ofa line of type-Writing when the edge 0 is arranged above and parallel to said line.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

MARY A. BROWN. Witnesses:

JAMES A.'WATSON, O. W. CLEMENT. 

